A Daughter of Maryland — page 29: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

14 A DAUGHTER OF MARYLAND. ‘‘Excuse me, Miss Aurian; I did not mean to frighten you. But whither are you bound in such haste, if I may ask ?’’ ‘‘Uncle Frost is very much worse, and he sent me word that he wanted to see me once more. ’’ ‘‘But a hurricane is coming up fast. See! from this elevated position we can see its advance column, You must return home with all speed possible. ’’ : ‘*Nonsense! I can reach Uncle Frost’s cabin in less time, and once there I shall escape a drenching, as if that was such a dreadful thing. I would not miss seeing him.’’} ‘*‘There is another reason why you should not keep on,’’ he said, laying one hand on Maze’s head and looking earnestly into Aurian’s countenance. ‘‘The recent rains have so swollen Wind River that it has nearly undermined the bridge abutments so the structure hangs trembling above the foaming stream. It is certainly not safe to cross it even on foot. Why! it scarcely seemed capable of bear- ing my weight, to say nothing of a horse and rider.’’ ‘*S’posen Jones crossed it in safety within an hour.’’ ‘‘I saw him, and expected the black imp would be sent to his destruction. ‘The horse he rode is lighter than yours, besides the supports are growing weaker every moment. Let me go on to Uncle Frost’s with any errand you may send, while you return home. ’’ ‘‘T thank you, Mr. Berners, for your kindness ; but I feel it is imperative I should keep on.’’ **Then I will accompany you, at least as far as the bridge. I can easily keep up with you over this beastly road. ’’ Aurian could not very well refuse the courteous offer, though she would have preferred very much to go on alone. She had known Esten Berners from early childhood, he being the son of her father’s overseer. Mr. Berners, senior, was a coarse, illiterate person, with a very exalted opinion of his own qualities. Why her father had looked cS Gomicboo €Oo mh